A city restaurant has revealed plans to build a new two-storey extension.

Benedicto’s in Sidbury, Worcester, has put forward a planning application which details work to build a new ground-floor bar and coffee shop.

Earlier this year, the owners of the Italian restaurant in Sidbury agreed to buy a chunk of land at the neighbouring King Street car park from Worcester City Council to make way for the two-storey extension.

The work would include a ground-floor bar, extended kitchen and five guest rooms.

The restaurant said it was looking to attract more people who just wanted a drink or coffee rather than a meal and the extension would create more space to help prepare food and deal with takeaway deliveries – which became more popular during the pandemic – as well as host ‘one-off’ private events.

The city council’s policy and resources committee agreed to the sale of just over 100 square metres of the 108-bay car park at a meeting in the Guildhall in February.

The expected year-long work at the grade II listed building would add up to 70 more covers as part of an extension to the restaurant’s kitchen, dining area, and bar and café.

A total of 18 spaces would be shut for the whole year during the work and another six spaces would be lost for at least a month when the payment machines are moved. Eventually, two parking spaces will be lost.

The council said it would be compensated for the loss of income but while the price of the sale was revealed to councillors, it has not yet been made public.

In March, then Tory council leader Chris Mitchell said he wanted to help a local business and improve an important gateway into the city but there were some concerns that the disruption in one of the city’s busiest car parks because of the work would put people off visiting – with Lib Dem councillor Mel Allcott worried that shutting part of the car park during the work could cause “untold damage.”

To have your say on the plans, visit the planning section of Worcester City Council’s website.

The application number is 23/00452/FUL and consultation ends on July 5.